When Sam and Nikos Liargovas took the reins at Oak Park’s beloved Spilt Milk Pastry, 811 South Blvd., they knew they had big shoes to fill. They will celebrate their first year as owners on Oct. 1. They say it has been a joy and an exploration.
“Before we got the store, it had a name, a story,” Sam Liargovas said. “We wanted to be very intentional, to respect what the customers really love about this place.”
“But also we’re trying to find our identity into it as well,” Nikos Liargovas said. “Like put our own touches too. People have been very supportive.”
The couple point out the importance of the staff.
“We have staff that was working here before us, way before us even,” Sam Liargovas said. “They know the recipes. They know what they’re doing, so we trusted them.”
“We give a heartfelt thank-you to our entire team. They have stood by us through both the challenging times and the good ones, showing us so much patience, understanding, and grace along the way,” Sam Liargovas said.
Kayla Scatton is the front of house manager. She is responsible for drink innovations and customer service, among other things. Metric Coffee supplies the beans.
“For the coffee all our drink syrups and ganaches are made from scratch,” Sam Liargovas said. “I think that does make a big difference.”
Megan Samelak joined as kitchen manager in June. She added her own ideas to the pastry case, including her take on pop tarts, Danishes, cheesecake bars, banana bread.
“She came up with the idea to add pumpkin spice donuts,” Sam Liargovas said. “I’m like, go for it!”
“People are loving them,” Nikos Liargovas said. “Donuts are flying right now. It’s pumpkin donuts. It’s right on the season.”
Early on, the owners were supported by other businesses in the community. Candycopia did a collaboration. Another nearby business lent a ladder. The village was easy to work with too, according to the owners, when they had questions such as whether they could paint their windows with seasonal displays. It was a gift that they want to pay forward.
“We want to keep working with small businesses, as we are a small business as well,” Nikos Liargovas said. And with Sam now joining the business full-time, “We’re trying to get more into it, especially now that she can take a little bit more on.”
Spilt Milk has rebooted Friday Night Dinner, a way to order a meal earlier in the week, pick up on Friday and have a stress-free meal.
“We’re working with smaller businesses for our dinner ingredients,” Nikos Liargovas said. “We’re hoping to be able to do that with farmers, butcheries, other places that support us – we support them.”
Coming soon will be more collaborations. There is a plan afoot to activate the shop’s outdoor patio space to make it even more family friendly with events and regular activities.
Another innovation is house made ice cream. Since they sell pie, it’s a natural extension of their offerings. A la mode, anyone?
“Vanilla is going to be the base,” Nikos Liargovas said. “Then we can play with adding our recipes into the ice cream, like chop up an apple pie, mix it in the vanilla. Or swirl our own caramel ganache in there.”
There have been ups and downs over the past year.
“Dealing with the (road) construction going on during almost all summer, I would be lying to you if I would say that didn’t affect us because it did. And I know that so many businesses around, not just us,” Sam Liargovas said. “But I’m excited about the holidays. I want everyone to get their pies. I also want them to try us after one year, then I want all the feedback. I just can’t wait to see customers enjoying the holidays!”